“For Surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope…” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Sitting in the airport yesterday, waiting to hop a flight to Charlotte and then Daytona, I had this image in my mind of the “man from Macedonia” from the story of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey in the book of Acts.

It wasn’t anything grand; no “Look at me, I’m an apostle;” nothing deeply spiritual. Instead, I was aware of this insistent urging that reminded me of how hungry people are to hear a word of good news about faith – especially in the western world’s “established church” climate that frequently leans toward discouragement, backward-focus, lack of passion, and defeatism, and often seems at a loss for compelling reasons to believe.

WORD: When I travel – and I’m on the road quite a lot this spring – I’ve found that pretty much everything I have to say ends up being poured through my filter of encouragement. It’s a deliberate counter to the ubiquitous backdrop of negative expectation that clouds much of the traditional church – as if the Gospel really isn’t that powerful, as if mediocrity is to be the expected norm, as if God really isn’t in the transformation business any more.

But God is… And so I simply share my experiences of assurance, grace, new life, transformation, and uncompromising belief.

And I talk about how the scriptures are so refreshingly vital, stoked with life, packed with promise, and new every morning – in the same way that God’s invitation to light and life is fresh and compelling and loaded with life-charged power.

And I encourage anyone and everyone to respond to God’s invitation with intention and with purpose, and to understand that the answer to every question, and the strength to negotiate every challenge is found in Jesus.

LOOK UP! From my own wisdom, I really have nothing to offer other than a signpost that reads “LOOK UP!” Because if I ever stand in front of a crowd and point to myself, then I will have missed my opportunity. So I simply present the Good News, and remind my audience that our opportunity is to live forward – as loved, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, responsible, believing, and transformed disciples of Jesus, followers of the Living Way.

In peace, and promise – DEREK